Mumps outbreak in Kosrae contained

From August 6, 2017 to November 4, 2017 the State of Kosrae had an outbreak of mumps that caused 21 people to get ill with swollen jaws, fever, headache, muscle ache, tiredness, and loss of appetite. While mostly 14 years old were affected, as young as 4 years old and as old as 24 year were affected.

This outbreak was linked back to a group of travelers from Kosrae who went to Seattle, Washington between July 15, 2017 to August 5, 2017 for a baseball event. All individuals who were exposed to and got sick from mumps were recovered.

Kosrae was able to contain this outbreak with assistance from partners such as the FSM Department of Health and Social Affairs, WHO, CDC, and the Pacific Island Health Officers Association (PIHOA). A response campaign was launched where the FSM and Kosrae Immunization Programs staffs vaccinated 215 individuals out of the 220 target individuals at greater risk. In addition to the catch-up vaccination campaign, Kosrae also carried out state-wide public awareness as prevention measures and environmental cleanup effort.

These activities and support from the Kosrae State leadership contributed to containing the outbreak from further spread locally and to other FSM states.

The estimated direct cost to the FSM Immunization Program to contain the outbreak was $45,000.